She claimed it was an "insidious" part of the culture in Westminster which was overlooked.

The Rotherham MP told BBC Radio Sheffield: "Some Tories are very good at gesticulating about females' assets."

Asked by presenter Rony Robinson whether she was referring to hand gestures and remarks about her "bum and breasts" she said: "Yes ... I think it is utterly appalling, it's deliberately trying to degrade people, it's sexist and people ought to be pulled for it."

She said it was "awful" and "really bad" but was unaware if Labour MPs did the same to female Tory MPs.She said: "I don't know because I'm on the bench looking forward, but the Tories definitely do it to Labour women."